Back in contention

Blues climb to second with narrow win over Chiefs, as Beauden Barrett completes quiet return to first-five

Aday billed around Beauden Barrett’s return to first-five instead finished with an unlikely hero for the Blues. Workaholic lock Josh Goodhue doesn’t win many plaudits compared with some of his more illustrious teammates, but after coming off the bench to earn a late match-winning penalty, he’s unlikely to be buying a beer this week.

Goodhue’s 78th-minute breakdown penalty on his own line allowed the Blues to escape with a narrow and unconvincing victory that lifts them to second in Super Rugby Aotearoa, two points behind the Crusaders, who have a game in hand.

After trailing 14-7 at halftime, the Chiefs rallied to have the better of the second half in particular, but they will be desperately disappointed not to break what is now a club record seven-game losing run which dates back pre-lockdown.

It was ironic that desperate defence and a late penalty saw the Blues escape, as discipline was a major issue throughout this match.

They got on the wrong side of referee Brendon Pickerill, conceding a 15-6 penalty count which culminated in replacement backline utility Harry Plummer being yellow carded in the closing stages for repeated team infringements.

That the Blues somehow held on sets up the competition for an engrossing final three rounds.

Despite strong contributions from Akira and Rieko Ioane, Ofa Tuungafasi and Finlay Christie, Leon MacDonald’s men must be much better than this effort in the weeks ahead to challenge for the title.

After the Hurricanes and Crusaders set the weekend standard on Saturday night in Christchurch, this match fell somewhat flat, with the skill execution well down on previous Kiwi derbies.

Another bumper Sunday afternoon crowd of 33,000 set the scene for the Blues’ return to Eden Park after away defeats to the Crusaders and Hurricanes threatened to derail their promising campaign.

Barrett’s first start in his preferred first five-eighth role for almost a year did not immediately unleash the Blues’ attacking potential.

Barrett delivered a solid 65 minutes in the No 10 jersey before shifting to fullback after Otere Black’s introduction off the bench but his performance could not be deemed a sparkling display.

Aaron Cruden’s injection at halftime helped spark the Chiefs in the second half. Solomon Alaimalo finished an 80-metre breakout after passes from Cruden and Anton Lienert-Brown put him in space on the outside.

Unfortunately for Alaimalo, that was his last act after Caleb Clarke dived on him in the in-goal to injure his arm in the process.

Not long after, Damian McKenzie slotted a penalty to hand the Chiefs their first lead of the match, though it would be short lived.

Tuungafasi’s bust up the middle of the ruck led to livewire halfback Christie regaining the advantage for the Blues — and they held on grimly from there.

Blues 21 (Matt Duffie, Patrick Tuipulotu, Finlay Christie tries; Beauden Barrett 3 cons)

Chiefs 17 (Lachlan Boshier, Solomon Alaimalo tries; Damian McKenzie 2 cons, pen)

HT: 14-7.